Does ETC need to be transferred after vehicle ownership transfer?

[LilaDella]

ETC does not need to be transferred after vehicle ownership transfer. There are three ways to handle ETC after vehicle transfer: When the vehicle transfer is completed and the license plate number remains unchanged, you can go to the bank branch where it was originally processed to complete the information change procedures; When the vehicle is transferred and the license plate number is changed: complete the unbinding procedure, then reapply for ETC for the new vehicle according to regulations; After vehicle transfer occurs, cancel ETC. ETC charging principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through microwave dedicated short-range communication between the on-board electronic tag installed on the vehicle windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane of the toll station, computer networking technology is used to conduct background settlement with the bank, achieving the purpose of vehicles not needing to stop at road and bridge toll stations to pay road and bridge fees. All of this is based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of installing ETC: Save time: eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and environmentally friendly: green and low-carbon, vehicles passing through toll stations without stopping can reduce noise and exhaust emissions, reducing pollution; Save wear and tear: save costs, reduce the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, and reduce wear and fuel consumption; Improve efficiency: The theoretical efficiency of ETC lanes can be increased by 2-3 times or more, making traditional ETC updates faster and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council clearly stated in the "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" that "by 2020, the interoperability of transportation cards in key urban agglomerations will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased," and clearly proposed in the main indicators of the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development that "by 2020, the ETC usage rate of road passenger vehicles will reach 50%". More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and the usage rate of ETC passenger vehicles, the future will also promote the use of ETC for trucks, explore the deep integration of the ETC system with the development direction of smart transportation such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, and provide car owners with comprehensive travel services, which means that more application scenarios will support ETC applications. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When encountering a vehicle in front stopping, to prevent the ETC device of the vehicle in front from malfunctioning or not having an ETC device at all, keep a distance of more than 10 meters from the vehicle in front to prevent automatic sensing from paying for the vehicle in front. The recognition speed for passing through ETC lanes is 20km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, which will also lead to charging failure. Unauthorized disassembly or movement of the OBU device, ETC electronic tag falling off or loosening, etc., will cause the electronic tag to fail. It can be sent to the bank where the ETC card was processed or the highway office for testing. Non-human loosening or falling off only requires reactivation. When using a debit card to bind ETC, insufficient balance will also lead to charging failure. You can follow the guidance of on-site staff to go to the manual MTC lane and use cash or card to pass. The windshield of the car is too thick, resulting in poor sensing. Especially for vehicles that have been repaired after an accident and have had the windshield replaced, or friends who have modified the front windshield need to pay attention.

[KayleeFitz]

I bought a used car last year, and the previous owner reminded me to transfer the ETC account. I wondered why it was necessary until one time on the highway, the barrier wouldn’t lift. The toll station said the ETC account name didn’t match the license plate info, so the system locked it—I was stuck there for half an hour. Later, I learned that the ETC was tied to the previous owner’s ID and bank card. Without transferring it, not only would it be unusable, but the original owner could also deactivate the device anytime. Worse, if they reported their bank card lost, any money I recharged could be frozen. So, I took my ID and the new car’s registration to an ETC service point to reapply. The staff suggested removing the old device to prevent remote deactivation by the previous owner. The new device was activated on the spot and took just five minutes.

[Teddy]

Anyone who frequently drives long distances knows how troublesome it is when ETC isn't transferred properly. A friend transferred their car's ETC to me without completing the ownership transfer. It worked at first, but when crossing provinces, the system flagged that the license plate didn't match the account info, making toll payment impossible. Staff explained the ETC was still tied to the original owner's details, and inter-province travel most easily triggers verification issues. Even worse, since the device was bank-issued, the ETC became invalid when the original owner reported their credit card lost. Later, when I personally went to the bank for the transfer, I found out it required both parties' IDs and a letter of authorization. To top it off, they charged me a 30 yuan removal fee when replacing the old device with a new card. Honestly, it would've been easier to just get a new ETC from scratch.

[VanViolet]

This is a common question at the DMV. After a vehicle transfer, the ETC must be re-registered because the license plate and owner information have changed. The bank card and ID card originally bound to the ETC still belong to the previous owner, and using it would be equivalent to impersonation, which the system can detect as abnormal. Moreover, the law requires ETC to be authenticated under real names, and failing to transfer it may affect toll settlement or even result in being blacklisted. It is recommended to bring the new vehicle registration certificate and ID card to an ETC service point as soon as possible after the transfer. If the previous owner can cooperate, the transfer procedure can be completed; if they cannot be contacted, applying for a new device directly is more convenient. Remember to remove the old device to avoid signal interference.

[SophiaLynn]

The essence of ETC is the binding relationship between the vehicle license plate and the payment account. After the vehicle is transferred, the license plate remains the same but the actual user changes, which is equivalent to a mismatch between the bank account name and the license plate owner. Using it in this state may result in minor issues like payment failure and being stuck at the toll station, or severe consequences such as being flagged for abnormal passage and having the account banned. Once, when I helped a relative with the transfer process, I found three key points to note when handling ETC: First, unbind the original license plate to prevent it from occupying the quota; second, confirm whether the original ETC is a stored-value card or a credit card—balances on stored-value cards can be transferred, but credit cards must be closed; third, the new device should be installed away from the black grid area on the windshield.